Staff Development Kit:

Choose healthier snacks

Statistics . . .

In NSW, 60% of preschool age children’s lunchboxes contain

more than one serve of ‘sometimes’ foods and drinks

Why healthier snacks (midmeals)?

Children have small

stomachs and need to

eat small amounts

more often than

adults.

Snacks are as

important as meals in

meeting children’s

nutritional needs and

maintaining their

energy levels.

Children need a

regular daily eating

routine that ideally

includes 3 meals and

2 or 3 snacks.

Healthy Eating Guideline

Offer meals and snacks at regular and

predictable intervals.

Best choices for healthy snacks . . .

Healthy snacks:

Everyday foods

Help meet 50% of

daily nutritional

needs

Substantial

Simple

Variety

Bread & cereals

Dairy

Fruit

Vegetables

Celebrations!

Activity:

Take 2 minutes to brainstorm ‘How does your ECEC

service ensure food provided during excursions and other

special events meet the dietary and nutritional

requirements of each child? (Adapted from questions to guide reflection on practice for Standard 2.1 Health – 2.1.3 - Healthy lifestyles )

NQS - Assessment guide for meeting Element 2.1.3

– Healthy lifestyle:

Educators engaging children in experiences,

conversations and routines that promote relaxed and

enjoyable mealtimes and promote healthy, balanced

lifestyles.

Did you consider . . .

Element 6.2.3 – Community

engagement

The service builds

relationships and engages

with it’s local community.

EYLF – Practice

Intentional teaching.

Educators plan opportunities

for intentional teaching and

knowledge-building. They

document and monitor

children’s learning.

Standard 2.1 - Health

Each child’s health and

physical activity is supported

and promoted.

Activity:

Take 2 minutes to brainstorm ‘How does your ECEC

service ensure food provided during excursions and other

special events meet the dietary and nutritional requirements

of each child? (Adapted from questions to guide reflection on practice for Standard 2.1 Health – 2.1.3 - Healthy lifestyles )

Keeping mealtimes positive!

Healthy Eating Guideline

Offer an appropriate amount of food, but allow children to

decide themselves how much they will actually eat.

NQS - Assessment guide for meeting Element 2.1.3

– Healthy lifestyle:

Engaging children in experiences, conversations and

routines that promote relaxed and enjoyable mealtimes

and promote healthy, balanced lifestyles.

NQS - Assessment guide

for meeting Element 2.1.3

– Healthy lifestyle:

Furniture and utensils that

are age appropriate and

encourage children to be

positively involved in and

enjoy mealtimes.

NQS - Assessment guide for

meeting Element 2.1.3 –

Healthy lifestyle:

Educators never using food to

reward or punish children.

Healthy Eating Guideline

Plan mealtimes to be positive,

relaxed and social.

NQS - Assessment guide

for meeting Element 2.1.3 –

Healthy lifestyle:

Educators sitting with children

and modelling, implementing

and reinforcing healthy eating

and nutrition practices with

children during mealtimes.

NQS - Element 5.1.1 – Positive

educator to child interactions:

Educators sitting and engaging in

relaxed and unhurried two way

conversations with

children, particularly at mealtimes.

Introducing children to new foods

Healthy Eating Guideline

Encourage children to try different food types and textures in a positive eating environment.

NQS - Assessment guide for meeting

Element 2.1.3 –

Healthy lifestyle:

Educators encouraging children to eat

healthy food without requiring them to eat

food they don’t like or to eat more than

they need, including supporting children to

recognise when they are hungry or ‘full’.

EYLF - Principles

Respect for diversity. Respecting

diversity means within the curriculum

valuing and reflecting the practices,

values and beliefs of families.

Serve a new food with a favourite or

familiar food.

Present new foods in different ways.

Allow children to explore new foods.

Discuss new foods with the children.

Give positive feedback.

Involve children in food preparation

experiences.

Eat with the children.

Share information with families.

Reflective practice . . .

Activity: Take 5 minutes to begin this ‘reflective practice’ task for Choose

healthier snacks . . .

How do educators learn about the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the Healthy Eating

Guidelines?

How are educators upskilled to ensure they understand what foods are the best choices

for healthier snacks?

How are children encouraged to eat / try a variety of healthy snacks?

How are healthy snacks/midmeals provided to help meet children’s daily nutritional needs

(planned on the menu or in lunchboxes)?

What Choose healthier snacks learning experiences are intentionally planned in the

program for children each day?

How are ‘spontaneous’ opportunities used to promote Choose healthier snacks with the

children?

What types of documentation does your service use to reflect Choose healthier snacks?

How is the importance of Choose healthier snacks communicated with families?

How does the service work collaboratively with families to ensure that food offered is

culturally appropriate and meets any special dietary requirements?

How is Choose healthier snacks reflected in service fundraising and/or celebrations?

How do educators promote a relaxed and enjoyable environment for mealtimes?

How often do educators sit with children and model healthy eating during mealtimes?

Resources to promote

healthier snacks

www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au

NQS – Exceeding guidance for Standard

2.1 – Health - Practice is embedded in

service operations

Actively promote healthy eating, physical

activity, and effective hygiene practices in the

delivery of the daily program

NQS – Exceeding guidance for Standard 2.1 –

Health – Practice is informed by critical

reflection

Seek out and consider alternate ways of

supporting each child’s health and activity needs,

and make changes where opportunities to further

enhance children’s outcomes are identified

NQS – Exceeding guidance for Standard 2.1 – Health –

Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families

and/or the community

Proactively promote children’s health and physical activity with

families and the community

Congratulations your ECEC service has completed

Choose healthier snacks!

Staff

Development Kit

What’s next?

Please ensure the Record of Completion is finalised for this

module

Link the Reflective Practice task to your service’s Quality

Improvement Plan

Select which ‘key message’ module you will share next and

schedule a date and time

Happy Munching & Moving!

The NSW Ministry of Health wishes to acknowledge the Early Childhood Training and

Resource Centre (ECTARC) for their contribution to the development of the Munch &

Move Staff Development Kit.